Soccer referee, executive charged with match-fixing in Belgium

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Belgian prosecutors charged a referee and four other people on Thursday with match-fixing in the country's top soccer league in a broad investigation into alleged corruption in Belgian football.

Prosecutors said a judge had charged four people with criminal organization and corruption and a fifth with money laundering – agent Dejan Veljkovic, referee Sebastien Delferiere and officials of KV Mechelen and Waasland-Beveren, who played each other on the final day of the regular season in March.

None of the five or their lawyers have commented on the accusations.

Federal magistrate Wenke Roggen (L) and Eric Van Duyse speak during a press conference in Brussels on October 11, 2018, as football clubs are investigated over alleged fraudulent transfers and match-fixing. /VCG Photo

Prosecutors also said more than 20 suspects were being investigated a day after hundreds of police carried out 44 house searches across Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Cyprus, Montenegro, Serbia and Macedonia.

In Belgium, 29 people have been detained, of whom 22 were to appear before a judge to face charges including criminal organization, money laundering and corruption. Of four people detained abroad, Belgian authorities have sought extradition for two.

Luxury watches, jewelry and cash are seized in Belgium, and empty boxes intended for luxury watches worth a total of 8 million euros were also found.

Abroad, documents and safes were seized and bank accounts frozen, for a total of 3.6 million euros.

Investigators walk in the carpark outside KAA Gent first division soccer club in Ghent on October 10, 2018, during an investigation on tax evasion, money laundering and possible match-fixing in the Belgian first division. /VCG Photo

In the first suspect match, on March 3, FC Antwerp beat Mechelen's relegation rivals Eupen 2-0 thanks to a penalty awarded following a tackle just outside the penalty area.

On March 11, the last day of the regular season, Mechelen beat Waasland-Beveren 2-0, but Eupen pulled off a sensational 4-0 victory to overtake Mechelen by dint of a superior goal difference of one.

Mechelen, who won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1988, were relegated.

Prosecutors said Veljkovic had contacted referee Delferiere, who was not in charge of either match, and offered benefits in return for favours, such as possibly influencing the suspension proceedings against a player.

(With input from Reuters and AFP)